Glowing plants will replace fluorescent lights

10/05/2013

A team of scientists from California are developing a new generation of bioluminescent plants, making changes in their genetic code. Funds for the implementation of this research project were collected through voluntary donations users Kickstarter.

As noted in the article by Andrew Pollack of The New York Times, this study will create "trees, replacing street lights" and even "ornamental plants, bright enough to read."

"We are using synthetic biology techniques and software Genome Compiler for implementation bioluminescent genes in Arabidopsis, a small plant of the cabbage family, for creating glowing plants (not suitable for food)" - written by the creators of the project. "The printed our DNA is introduced into a special bacteria that will make this DNA into the plant."

At the moment the project was supported by 4,700 people, whose donations of more than four times the original goal of $ 65,000. Donate $ 150 or more will receive seeds to grow their glowing plants.